Events

Welcome to the Okanagan Jewish Community Association (OJCA)

The OJCA is a Synagogue (Beth Shalom Synagogue) and Community Centre (OJCC) located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia.

With a diverse membership consisting of Jews with Orthodox, Conservative and Reform backgrounds, the Okanagan Jewish Community has styled itself to conduct its services and celebrate holidays in an all inclusive fashion. As a result of the strength which this diversity brings, the OJCA has evolved to be a progressive Jewish community with a growing and enthusiastic membership. As well, the OJCA has historically maintained an active involvement and a strong presence in the mainstream of the culturally diverse Okanagan community at large.

 

 Reminders & Announcements: Refer to the "Events Calendar".

  

OJCA 2011-2012 Membership Fees are due:

Membership runs from May 1, 2011-April 30, 2012 and there has been no increase in the dues. The membership application form is available for download: Click here to download

  

 

Weekend Services by: RABBI DAVID KUNIN- February 3-5

(Visiting from: Beth Shalom Conservative Congregation, Edmonton)

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday February 3 - 5 the OJCC is hosting Rabbi David Kunin from Edmonton.

Shabbaton will feature:

  • A Friday night service starting at 7:30 PM
  • A Saturday Morning service beginning at 10 AM with Potluck/kidddish lunch to follow (see below for details)
  • A feature lecture on Conservative Judaism in the 21st Century delivered by Kunin
  • Children's activities (TBA - Contact Hilla)
  • A Saturday evening question and answer session (4:30 PM)

Please join us for as many events as you can. Both members and non-members are welcome.

WE are looking for volunteers to help organize Saturday's dairy kiddush potluck. Please contact Jeremy as soon as possible if you would like to volunteer.

I hope to see all of you at services this Shabbat. I believe this will be a very exciting weekend.

RABBI KUNIN'S BIO:

Rabbi David Kunin graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Medieval History. He then attended the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he was ordained as a Rabbi and received an MA in Judaic Studies.

Before coming to Beth Shalom, He has served congregations in Scotland, and in several communities in North America, most recently in San Diego. He also served as the Director of Congregational Programming for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Kunin is in his 9th year as spiritual leader of Beth Shalom Synagogue.

Rabbi Kunin has a strong commitment to Jewish learning, and to a strong laity that play a central role in the religious leadership of the congregation. He believes that Jewish learning and growth is a life-long process. He also believes that spiritual growth, as we build our relationship with the community and God should be a continuous part of Jewish life.

Rabbi Kunin is a strong believer in the importance of good and harmonious relations between people from diverse religious communities. Interfaith relations have therefore been a continuous mark of his rabbinate. He served as the Chair of the Southern Tier Interfaith Coalition (Elmira, NY), where he created the Walking Together program, and is a long time board member and current president of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action. He received the Alberta Centennial Medal in recognition of his community work.

Rabbi Kunin speaks widely on Judaism and Israel, and on issues of understanding between different religions and traditions. Rabbi Kunin also serves on the Academic Senate of St Stephen’s College and is a Chaplain at the University of Alberta.

 

 

PHILOSOPHER'S CAFE:  FEBRUARY 6th

 

FEBRUARY 6th OJC PHILOSOPHER’S CAFÉ - “SEEDS IN THE WIND”

On Monday, February 6th, the Guest Speaker at the OJC Philosopher’s Café will be Teresa Yang-May who recently published a children’s book about multiculturalism, acceptance and a young girl’s struggle with identity as a Chinese immigrant.

 “Seeds in the Wind” is a compilation of anecdotes, poems and drawings, collected and written by Teresa Yang-May. As a child, Yang-May had always aspired to be a teacher and in 1984 she moved to Halifax to pursue that dream at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. It was while teaching in Halifax that Yang-May conceived the idea of a book .

She started writing it about 20 years ago, one chapter at a time, and read it to her students who later submitted their reflections through drawings, poems and journal entries.   In one written reflection, a 10 year old student thought that Yang-May’s life followed the path of a seed in the wind.

The Philosopher’s Café is held at 7:00 pm at the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre located at 102 Snowsell St N (corner of Union Rd and Snowsell St – directly across from the North Glenmore Elementary).

There will be an opportunity for discussion following the presentation and refreshments afterwards. This event is open to the public at no charge.

 

 

OJCC HOSTS NEW MAYOR

The Okanagan Jewish Community hosted newly elected Mayor Walter Gray on January 9, 2012. He was the guest speaker at the OJCA's monthly Philosopher's Cafe program, open to the public. Close to 50 OJC and other members of the public attended for an informative talk on the future of Kelowna under Mayor Gray, followed by a lively question and answer period. Mayor Gray had previously served as Mayor of Kelowna for three, three year terms in 1996 through 2005 and was reelected in the fall of 2011. He spoke of new high rise developments and revitalization of the downtown and waterfront, the new Kelowna Yacht Club, improved transit, Kelowna's airport now being the 10th busiest in Canada, the need to promote a more balanced age demographic of Kelowna residents, policing, taxation and many other areas contained within the city's $412 million budget.

UBCO now has more than 10,000 students and continues to expand with a new Faculty of Medicine. A major expansion of the Kelowna General Hospital is near in completion. Mayor Gray and the new council see the economic benefits of sustained development and want developers to view Kelowna as "open for business".

At age 71 Mayor Gray well illustrated his qualities as an articulate, energetic, and intelligent leader. One of his first acts as newly elected Mayor was an almost immediate approval of the placement of a nine foot menorah in Stuart Park directly across from City Hall for nightly candle lighting during Hannukah.

The evening concluded with the evening's host, OJC member Sid Segal, thanking Mayor Gray and presenting him with a gift of a limited edition print of artist Dina Kotler's 'Red Dragon'.

Everyone mingled and enjoyed refreshments following.

 

MARCH 5th OJC PHILOSOPHER'S CAFE - "THE KELOWNA STORY" 

Sharron Simpson will be the Guest Speaker on Monday, March 5th at the OJC’s monthly Philosopher’s Café. Sharron has written a new book about the history of Kelowna entitled ‘The Kelowna Story’.

Sharron is a long standing and recognizable name in Kelowna. She was born here, to a pioneer local family, and returned in 1984 with her family. 
She’s had an eclectic career with studies spanning a B.A., B.S.W. and Masters in Environment Studies. She served a term in 1986 as a Kelowna City Councillor and she’s worked as a social worker, stock broker, writer, teacher and adjunct Professor at UBCO. With all of that, she still has taken the time to volunteer and work on various boards including the Museum.
‘The Kelowna Story’ is the most comprehensive and substantive book on Kelowna’s history yet published. Some of what she’s written is from her own memory but she has done considerable research as well.
Sharron has published two previous books entitled Kelowna’s General Hospital: The First 100 Years and ‘Boards, Boxes and Bins’: Stanley M Simpson (her father) and the Okanagan Lumber Industry.
There will be a question and answer period following Sharron’s presentation with refreshments afterwards.
 

This event is open to the public at no charge and will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, March 5th at the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre located at 102 Snowsell Street N (corner of Union & Snowsell – across from the North Glenmore Elementary).  

 

 

 

OJC 15th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT:

SUNDAY JULY 15th 2012. Harvest Golf Club

We are in the early planning stages for the Okanagan Jewish Community’s 15th Annual Golf Tournament taking place on July 15th 2012 at the Harvest Golf Club. Proceeds from this event help fund many educational and family programs in the community. As well, In lieu of a welcoming gift to each golfer a donation will be given to “The Sunshine Foundation”. The Sunshine foundation makes dreams come true for children living in the Okanagan, who are challenged by severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.

Our tournament is attended by 144 golfers and registration includes Brunch, Golf and a sit down Prime Rib dinner. On course food is sponsored by Moxies, Milestones, Dairy Queen, Ric's Grill, Tree Brewery and Mr. Mozzarella. Other course sponsors include WestJet, BMW, General Motors, Sanger Boats, West Edmonton Mall, Bank of Montreal and many more.

Special room rates will soon be available for the entire weekend at Kelowna's Sandman Signature Hotel. The Sandman has also donated this years early bird registration prize of a One Night Stay in a Corporate King Suite.

If you would like to volunteer and join the team to help make this a successful event then please call or email David Spevakow Ph: 250-317-5283 or dspevakow@gmail.com

 

*** Special Tournament Weekend Hotel Rates available at the brand new Sandman Signature Executive Tower.

Call 1-800-SANDMAN and reference Booking #327919